Nonremovable closure for containers



Sept. 12, 1933. J. C.IMUNK ET AL 1,926,300

NONREMOVABLE CLOSURE FQR'GbNTAINERS Filed June 11, 1932 I! 5 S T -H John C Munk Martin Zi1mer Inventors Attorney Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES NONREMOVABLE CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS John C. Munk and Martin Zirmer, Portland, Oreg.

Application June 11, 1932. Serial No. 616,642 3 Claims. (Cl. 221-60) Our invention relates to closures for containers, particularly containers of the collapsible type adapted for holding any soft and plastic mixture or composition, such as tooth paste, shaving 5 cream, vaseline, cold cream and analogous substances. While we contemplate the use of our closure in conjunction with collapsible co'ntainers holding soft and plastic mixtures or compositions therein, this is not to be taken as a limitation upon our use of the closure for different types of containers since it is well adapted for use with containers holding powdered and/or granular substances.

It has heretofore been customary and; still is the general practice to retain soft and plastic mixtures orcompositions, particularly tooth paste, shaving cream, Vaseline, cold cream and.

analogous substances in collapsibleicontainers or tubes. The general construction of these collapsible containers or tubes contemplates the use I of a closure, threaded or otherwise, which, of

necessity, has to be completely removed from the container in order to permit the removal of the. contents. This practice has proved very unsatis factory in view of the fact that not. infrequenly the removed closure is not replaced upon the container. Failure to replace the closure permits the contents to be exposed to the elements and bacteria, and very often the removed'capfor closure is lost and thereby produces the same unsatisfactory conditions. Threaded closures and threaded necks are also objectionable'because of the expense involved in their production, because they require a large amount of metallto make them sufficiently rigid, and because the threads become clogged with the material during use.

Our invention contemplates the provision of a closure for a container that cannot be removed therefrom at any time and which is as threadless 40 as the neck of the container about which it revolves. This arrangement of ours is conducive to economy in manufacture, ease of assembly, rigidity of construction, and ease of operation and a substantially fluid tight closure of the outlet opening in the container is assured thereby.

The particular object of our invention is to provide, in combination with a collapsible container or tube, a non-removable closure or cap adapted to be rotated about the outlet-opening disposed through the top of the container in order to effect a substantially tight closure of the opening in the container and, when desired, to leave the opening uncovered, so that the contents of the container may be discharged therethrou'gh by tion of the closure relative to the neck of the throughout the several views.

subjecting the container to external pressure in the usual manner.

Another object of our invention is to provide a closure or cap devoid of threads and adapted to be rotatably secured about the top surface of a container or tube.

A further object of our invention is to provide a simple, practical, inexpensive and eflicient nonremovable closure for containers or collapsible tubes constructed of less material than the tubes 5 now employed and with a saving of time and costs.

Still another object of our invention is to simplify the manufacturing of closures or caps for containers or tubes to which this invention relates.

A still further object of our invention is to reduce the time and cost of manufacturing closures or caps and to reduce the time and cost of placing a closure upon a container.

Other objects and advantages and the nature and characteristic features of our present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the following description which is directed particularly to a collapsible container although we do not wish to limit ourselves to containers of a collapsible nature only and which is to be considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, inwhich: I

Figure 1 is a side, elevational view of an ordinary form of collapsible container or tube to which our invention has been applied.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, side view of the container shown in Figure 1, partially in section, showing the relationship between the neck that is an integral part of the conical shaped top of the container and the closure or cap illustrated in Figure 1 and showing the position of the tapered surface and cutaway'portion relative to the opening through the neck and to the outer-periphery of the neck.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of our closure showing the elements that limit the rotacontainer.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the elements shown in Figure 3, taken on line 44 of said figure, looking in the direction indicated, and showing the closure or cap portion in spaced relation with the neck portion in order to more graphically disclose the relationship of the closure or cap portion to the neck portion.

Similar numerals refer to identical parts neck 4 has a seat 6 made integral therewith through which there extends (at one side of the center of the seat) an opening 7 that communidates with the inside of the body-element l.

A closure is rotatably and permanently disposed about the neck '4 of the body-element. The closure comprises an annular-band 8 having a small portion thereof cut away. A top 9, having a knurled-edge i0 is secured to the annularband 8. The top has a cutaway-portion which is directly aligned with the cutaway-portion of the annular-band. Tapered-surface 11 is disposed about the cutaway-portion of the top.

A retaining-projection 23 is disposed under the top 9 immediately below the: tapered-surface 11 and is adapted to ride within the cutaway-portion 16 between the offsets 1'7 and 18. The outerperiphery 13 of the annular-band 8 is adapted to be pressed inwardly in order to rotatably fit with in the groove 5. In this manner, the closure is guided and retained at all times about the neck 4 and at the same time its rotation is permitted for a limited distance. in order to uncover or cover the opening '7.

Obviously various means can be used to secure a satisfactory working connection between the closure and the container and at the same time avoid leakage of the contents during the time when the container is being filled, in transit, in storage and during the time of use; This may be accomplished by placing a piece of cork or other similar substance between the closure and the container. Or the-opening may be effectively sealed until access to the contents is desired and then the seal may be expeditiously broken.

This completes the detailed description of the detail as come within the skill of the mechanic may be resorted to but which do not depart from the spirit of the invention herein. It is understood, therefore, that we consider as our own all such modifications and adaptations of the invention as fairly fall within the scope of the inven tion defined in the appended claims, provided, of course, the elements set forth in the following claims are employed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and useful and upon which we desire to secure Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible container or tube, comprising a body-element having an end-closing-wall, a neck extending upwardly from the end-closingwall, the periphery of the neck being inclined inwardly for the major portion of its circumference thus forming a groove, ofisets formed at each end of the said groove, said neck having an opening that communicates with the inside of the body element, a closure rotatably disposed about the neck, and means on the periphery of said closure for limiting the rotation of the closure relative to the neck.

2. A collapsible container or tube comprising a body-element having an end-closing-wall of somewhat conical shape, a neck extending upwardly from the center of the end-closing-wall, the periphery of the neck being inclined inwardly for the major portion of its circumference thereby forming a groove, an offset formed at each end of said groove, a top disposed upon the neck, said top having an opening that communicates with theinside of the body-element, a closure rotatably disposed about the neck, said closure adapted to be clamped about the neck and ride within said groove, and a retaining projection extending downwardly from the periphery of said closure for limiting the rotation of said closure relative to the neck between the oil'sets formed at each end of the groove of the neck.

3. A closure or cap to be used with a device as characterized in claim 2 wherein the closure consists of an annular-band having a small portion thereof cut away, a top, having a small portion cut away, covering the major portion of the band, the annular-band adapted to have its free end pressed inwardly and thereby retain the closure about the neck and permit said closure to ride within the groove, said top having a tapered-surface fringing the cutaway-portion thereof, and said tapered-surface being inclined toward the top portion of the neck, and a retaining-projection extending downwardly from the top covering adapted to limit .the rotation of the closure relative to the neck.

JOHN C. MUNK. MARTIN ZIRMER. 

